Dowie knows the big picture is about survival

Iain Dowie is determined to prevent the Wayne Routledge transfer talk wrecking Crystal Palace's survival prospects.

The manager has been trying to convince his star winger to stay despite interest from Tottenham.

His chances are slim but Dowie has said he is ready to play Routledge against his suitors at Selhurst Park tomorrow and the England Under-21 international would face intense scrutiny if he did.

But the Palace boss does not want players or fans to lose sight of their main aim.

Dowie said: "The big picture is about Palace surviving in the Premier League.

It is not about one player. The mood among the players is, hopefully, of hunger and desire to stay in this league. We have got 15 games left and need everybody to come off 100 per cent shattered after each one."

Dowie has found the January transfer window frustrating so far. Distracted by Routledge's situation, he has also been unable to bring anyone in and has only 10 trading days left.

There are similarities to the situation he faced last August when some frantic last minute business had to be done.

Dowie said: "Hopefully, if Wayne was to leave I would get that money to spend in the transfer market. We have not been big spenders by any stretch of the imagination.

"We need some investment in the team and there is no question about that.

"It has been a little bit frustrating, particularly with other clubs around us getting players in. But it is something we are working very hard at and we cannot do things in the rushed fashion we had to earlier in the season."

Palace will be without Aki Riihilahti (calf) again but Joonas Kolkka could return if he passes a late fitness test on a rib injury.